Many of these bits and pieces, are easily found in a French supermarket, but if you prefer you could pop into the Conran Shop, John Lewis, or order online. However, if that is the option you take, you had better be prepared to part with far more cash.
I would categorise the goods here as Cheap and Cheerful, but also wonderful. They are all useful, either in their original role or with additional duties in a busy household, and they will often fit into a tiny space in the car. I often think they are more useful purchases then the obvious French wine and cheeses. Look out for them in the supermarkets and pop one or two into your trolley, you'll be delighted in the depths of winter with these tangible reminders of a super summer break!
There are many areas I haven't touched on; stationary, books, clothes and wine to pinpoint the most obvious, but all those things are so personal I do not feel that I could or should influence anyone. I do hope this little list helps in some small way with your holiday shopping.
I also hope that you have the time to visit the small shops in the area you are staying, as well as the fantastic street markets. These will give you a far fuller and more complete taste of the region then a visit to the supermarket ever can.
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| Firstly, I had to feature these superb Hot Chocolate Breakfast Bowls, I have seen this basic white one for £5.00 each in London, but here they are just over 1 Euro. |
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| You could buy a wonderful selection, lots of lovely uni-coloured bowls as well as the gorgeous patterns on the Bottom row! |
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| I love the fact that they are all varying sizes, and I also have a set of the Duralex bowls, which are sold as 'nesting bowls' in London, make your own set at half the price! |
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| I loved these "Breton" themed bowls with the sailing ships, but at 3 Euros each, they are rather expensive! |
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| As you know I boil my own crabs and lobsters here in Brittany and a did I have to find a specialist shop and pay a fortune? No, as I was buying some bread and cheese, I popped one into my trolley (that will be 20 Euro please) and took it home. |
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| This year I found these stainless steel jam pots for 14 Euro lurking above the saucepans and lids! |
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Glasses are essential, and I tend to stock up on Duralex, perfect for children and holidays as they are virtually un- breakable, don't you remember them from school? |
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| More of the 'nesting bowls' and the Marine is wonderful too, a deep and lovely blue colour |
| I heard Terence Conran talking about buying carafes in France, and here are some which are just over one Euro each. I have taken some back to London, where they make delightful flower vases. |
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| My daughter jogged my arm, as I took a further photograph of the carafes, I hadn't noticed these Espresso machines! Tomorrow, I'm buying a new coffee maker! |
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| There are plenty of supplies for jam makers, but to get really good jars I went to another supermarket. (Tweet me and follow if you don't already, and I'll let you know where!) |
I love those bowls and have a few in various colours here. But my oh my, I really feel the need to go shopping en france VERY soon!
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I am as happy as can be but I think my husband is going to be really annoyed with me. This is the first year we are travelling to France with an estate instead of a people carrier. Normally we fill up the boot with about 120 bottles of wine. Now with a smaller boot and a huge shopping list inspired by you, I think I might be coming back home by plane! Or this could be the time I go and buy a roof box! I will be packing vitally no clothes and hope this helps a bit :-)
ReplyDeleteMagic bean, everyone should shop in France.
ReplyDeleteLaura, you did make me laugh! We're in the same situation our land rover has far less space then our old grande scenic, and I spend all my time trying to squeeze things in and we have the dog, he takes up most of the boot! We often leave half the jam till we get back at Christmas! and we buy no wine to take home, any bargains in that area we leave here for the next holiday. I hope you have a great holiday, I'm surfeit will be fabulous, and I'm looking forward to hearing about it in September.
Well, I'm rather envious, I could spend a lovely morning or afternoon on a lovely spending spree and still come home with change! Have a lovely summer. The sun is shining here today - well at the moment anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great shopping spree! I won't get to France again for years and years - but as you say there's always online!
ReplyDeleteMay x
Your posts on recommendations for shopping in Brittany are wonderful, I wish I was on the next ferry! As a child in the 1970's we bought some coloured glasses in the hypermarket and they are still going strong many,many years later.
ReplyDeleteSarah x
Loved this post! I have some of those hot chocolate breakfast bowls! A jam pan for 14 euros, wow! What supermarket do you use there and where are the better jam jars? I was so upset to forget to go to the supermarket one last time and pick up some jam jars and lids last week!Will just have to plan to go back soon!
ReplyDeleteJayne, how depressing, but I think that Lakeland do some super jam pots and lids. The jam pan is fantastic and though I have a great one at home I'm tempted (at that price) to take one back with me. I took the photos in E LeClerc, but bought my jam pots from Intermarche.
ReplyDeleteSarah, that is wonderful to have glasses from the 70s, I hope my children will be delighted to have glasses I bought in the noughties!
Jennifer and Mary, it is such fun, I go round the shelves planning my next supermarket raid, just so much more exciting then shopping at home!
My top French supermarket buy is silicon bakeware in Carrefour. A fraction of the cost of the same stuff in the UK. I am fairly confident that it is made by one of the top manufacturers but in a Carrefour mould as everything else is the same.
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